The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office explained why they’re trading traditional green uniforms for “safety pink jumpsuits.”
GALVESTON, Texas — Some inmates in the Galveston County Jail are now wearing bright pink jumpsuits instead of the traditional green uniforms. All inmates will eventually wear the new look.
The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office cited four reasons for the switch to “safety pink” jumpsuits.
- To discourage recidivism
- To enhance visibility for corrections officers in identifying potential threats
- To create a calming atmosphere because the color pink is believed to help alleviate feelings of anger
- To foster a more positive environment inside the jail
GCSO said inmates who were the first to wear the hot pink unis volunteered for a group photo.
Going pink made dramatic difference for tiny Texas jail
Galveston County isn’t the first Texas jail to think pink.
A new sheriff in Mason County, northwest of Austin, made the switch back in 2006 and it wasn’t just pink jumpsuits. Inmates also wore pink slippers and slept under pink sheets while surrounded by pink walls and pink bars.
Three county inmates in the jail told the Associated Press in 2006 they didn’t want to go outside on work details where people would see them.
“I’m not going outside in these things. It’s a good deterrent because I don’t want to wear them anymore,” one inmate who didn’t want to be identified said.
Sheriff Clint Low claimed back then that the rate of repeat offenders dropped 70% when he switched to pink.
He said the pink walls also help keep tempers in check and there were no more fights between inmates after they were painted.
Low got the idea of pink jumpsuits from Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County in Arizona, who bought pink boxers to keep inmates from stealing the underwear.